Method and apparatus for supporting flexible container bodies in a closing machine

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for supporting flexible open-ended container bodies, such as formed of plastic, in a closing machine are provided in which the body is moved laterally into an openended partial supporting mold, an end closure member is positioned in aligned relation with the open end of the body, a second partial supporting mold is moved against the side wall of the body at the open end of the open-ended partial mold, and both of the partial molds with the body therebetween are moved into a seaming mechanism whereby the side walls and open end of the body are supported by the partial molds during attachment of the end closure to the body.

United States Patent 11 1 Phalin et al.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING FLEXIBLE CONTAINER BODIES IN ACLOSING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Thomas Lawrence Phalin, Cary; WilliamStephen Birkholz, Zion,

both of I11.

[73] Assignee: American Can Company, Greenwich,Conn.

[22] Filed: May 17, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 143,936

[52] US. Cl. ..53/42, 53/300, 53/308, 53/334 [51 1 Int. Cl. ..B65b 7/28[58] Field of Search ..53/42,-289, 300, 308, 346, 53/85, 89,91, 95, 96,329,86, 334; 113/1 E, 29, 30, 31,120 XY 1451 Feb. 6, 1973 Diezel et al..53/308 X 1,605,565 11/1926 Rooney ..53/89 1,767,475 6/1930 Podel.....53/89 X 3,491,936 1/1970 Fox 53/86 X [57] ABSTRACT A method andapparatus for supporting'flexible openended container bodies, such asformed of plastic, in a closing machine are provided in which the bodyis moved laterally into an open-ended partial supporting mold, an endclosure member is positioned in aligned relation with the open end ofthe body, a second partial supporting mold is moved against the sidewall of the body at the open end of the open-ended partial mold, andboth of the partial molds with the body therebetween are moved into aseaming mechanism whereby the side walls and open end of the body aresupported by thepartial molds during attachment of the end closure tothe body.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEB 6 I975 SHEET 10F 2 PATENTEDFEB6l975 3,714,755

SHEET 2 OF 2 ////r/ VA /7 INVENTORS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTINGFLEXIBLE CONTAINER BODIES IN A CLOSING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a method and apparatus for attachingend closures to container bodies, and more particularly to a method andapparatus for supporting mold provided at the closing machine. Thismethod was relatively slow and required a considerable amount of manuallabor. Also, a separate metal mold for each can body was sometimes usedand the mold and body were fed through an automatic can closing machine.This latter process also involved a considerable amount of manual laborsince the cans had to be inserted and removed from themolds, and thenthe molds moved for reuse. The number of molds required for commercialoperation was excessive. Also, the molds were expensive and had to berepaired or replaced when damaged,

for example, as a result of being dropped. These.

methods and the necessary apparatus were relatively expensive because ofthe relatively large labor time and cost, large number molds, and highcost of the separate molds. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide a novel method and apparatus for supportingflexible container bodies in a closing machine wherein theabovementioned disadvantages are substantially obviated or overcome in alarge measure.

A more specific object is to provide a novel method and apparatus forsupporting a relatively highly flexible container body in an end closureattaching system wherein the labor cost is reduced and wherein arelatively high speed of operation is obtainable.

Another object is to provide novel supporting mold apparatus whichprovides flange support during seaming of an end closure thereto for acan body made of relatively highly flexible material and which isadapted to readily receive can bodies and permit easy removal thereof.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a method ofsupporting a flexible container body during attachment of a closuremember thereto is provided which includes providing a supporting moldportion, moving a container body into the mold portion so that awallportion of the body is supported thereby, moving another supporting moldportion into supporting engagement with the body so that another wallportion of the body is supported thereby, and moving the mold portionsand the body into an end closure attaching mechanism to attach an endclosure to the body. In accordancewith another aspect of the invention,apparatus for supporting the side walls of a container body during theattachment of an end closure thereto is provided which includes asupporting mold portion for supporting a portion of the side wall of acontainer body, and another supporting mold portion adapted to move intoengagement with the container to support'anotherportion of the containerside wall, the mold portions being movable with the body towardand awayfrom an end closure attaching mechanism.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent fromthe following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a canclosing machine, with portions omitted for clarity, including apparatusfor supporting flexible container bodies during the attachment of theend closures thereto in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view illustrating theposition of a filled container body within the mold mechanism at thecontainer closing station of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing thecontainer body positioned to have the end closure attached thereto; and

FIG; 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the seam on aclosed container. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a container or can closingmachine indicated generally at 10 that includes a turret ll which isadapted to receive filled container can bodies B at a body deliverystation 12, receive end closures or covers C at a station 13, attach thecovers C to bodies B. at a cover attaching or closure seaming station14, and to discharge the closed cans at a discharge station 15..

The turret 11 is shown for illustrationas including a base plate 17 anda cover receiving plate 18 fixed to a main shaft 19 that is rotatablydriven by a drive shaft 20 through a geneva gear and pinion drivemechanism 21. The mechanism 21 provides intermittent motion to mainshaft 19 to rotate plates 17 and 18, in this case, in steps between thestations 12-15 during each cycle of operation. The turret I1 is shownincluding four like partial supporting molds or main mold portions 24disposed on base plate 17 90 apart and movable therewith between thefour stations.

Each partial mold 24 is shown including a bottom wall or plate 25 and anupstanding side wall 26 having a bottom flange 27 connected, such as bya plurality bolts, to the bottom wall 25 of the mold portion. Thesidewall 26 is generally complementary in shape to that of a portion ofthe. outer side wall 30 of the can body which it is adapted to supportduring the seaming operation. The partial mold is open atone end thereofto receive a can body and is also open at the top, the side wall 26being generally U-shaped.

Each can body B is shown in the drawings as having an irregular ornon-circular shape, a shape often used for ham cans. The side wall 30 ofeach body B'is formed of material which is relatively highly flexibleand requires support during attachment of a cover thereto.

Each body is shown as an integral body having a bottom wall 31 (FIGS. 3and 4) integral with the side wall 30. The can bodies B may be formedfrom one or more layers of flexible material and are shown formed ofplastic. For example, each body may be thermoformed from a plasticmaterial or a plastic laminate of different kinds of plastic materials,such as a polyethene-saranpolyethene laminate having a finished laminatethickness of about 0.035 inch.

In FIG 1, a driven chain or belt 32 delivers the plastic can bodiesfilled with a product 33, such asham, to delivery station 12. The filledcan bodies are moved in .series until they reach station 12 where theyare moved from a conventional delivery slide 39 onto a ledge 40.

provided adjacent the edge of an opening 41 provided in the upper plate18 of the turret 11. Each cover C is preferably formed of metal, forexample, steel or aluminum, and is provided with a top panel42surrounded by a raised seaming flange 43 to be described in greaterdetail hereinafter. The covers are shown as a manually openable oreasy-open type lids having a tab 44. The peripheral flange 43 rests onthe ledge 40 in aligned relation with the can body 13 directly below it.

The turret 11 is automatically rotated through another90 to position thealigned coverC and body B at the closing station 14. As the turretrotates, a cam operated clamp 45 carrying another partial supportingmold or mold portion 46 is actuated to effect engagement between theradially outer free end of the side wall portion 30 of the body B andthe mold portion 46.

At'the seaming station 14 in FIG. 1, the aligned cover C and filled bodyB are positioned below a conventional cover attaching device such as aseaming mechanism indicated'generally M48, and which is preferably adevice of the doubleseaming type. Seaming device 48 is supportedpermanently at station 14, such as by sup- As seen in FIG. 2, thepartial mold-46, shown also in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes a partial moldwall member 50 generally complimentary in shape to the free end portionof the can body B and connected by screws 51 to a slidable guide member52 that is guided for vertical movement in a slot 53 provided in anupstanding clamping plate 55. Theguide member 52 is shown connected forsliding movement relative to the plate 55 by means of an outer washer 56spanning slot 53 and a screw 57. l

The clamping plate 55, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, is connected to one endof a generally V-shaped cam arm 58 that is connected intermediate itsends for pivotal movement on a pin 59 which, in turn, is connected to astationary support 60. A spring 61 biases the plate 55 in a horizontaldirection away from the turret 11. The opposite end of arm 58 has arotatable cam roller 62 thereon adapted for engagement with radiallyoutwardly extending cam members 63 connected in a predeterminedarrangement to the outer periphery of turret plate 17. During engagementbetween the cam member 63 and roller 62, the plate 55 is moved againstthe-force of spring 61 toward a can bodyiat station '14.. In FIG. 2, thepartial mold 46 is shown in phantom in its retracted position. Theturret 1 1 is provided with four such cam members 63 (two shown) andthese, of course, synchronize the horizontal movement of the camoperated partial partial mold 46 with the movement of turret 11.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the side wall 30 of can body 13 has a radiallyoutwardly extending shoulder or ridge 64 which extends around the bodyand is shown seated on an inner shoulder or flange 65 extending aroundthe inside of partial mold 26 (FIG. 1) and a shoulder or flange 65aextending along the inner side of partial mold 46 (FIGS. 3 and 4).Shoulder 64 serves as a The cover flange 43 as seen in greater detail inFlGS. 3 and 4 includes an upwardly extending wall 76 providing a seatwhich receives the seaming chuck 77 (FIG. 4) during the seamingoperation. Flange 43 includes a radially outwardly extending portion 78ending in a curl 79.

The body B is clamped at station 14 between the supporting mold portions24 and 46, these supporting mold portions providing sufficient supportto the ridge 68 or upper peripheral open end portion of the body topermit attachment of the metal cover C thereto. The mold portion 24provides support for the major peripheral portion of the upper end ofthe body, it extending along-the major portions of theopposed longersides of the body and the smaller right end thereof, as viewed in FIG.2. The mold portion 24 is formed to providean opening at the left endthereof large enough'to permit-lateral insertion of the body B into themold portion. The mold portion 46 engages and supports ridge 68 at theupper end of the left end wall of the body.

While the twomold portions could be made to engage and surround theentire periphery'or substantially all of the upper end of the body, itwas found that this was not necessary for good double seamingoperations.

Where desired, the upper end portion of plate 55 may be provided with anabutment (not shown) which engages the cover C to center or ensurealignment between the cover and body prior to the seaming operation. v

In the illustratedembodiment, the bottom plate 25 of the partial mold 24also serves as a lifter plate. As seen in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 the plate 25extends into a slot or opening 80 provided in the mold portion 46 tomove both mold portions 24 and 46and the filled body B upwardly into thedouble seaming head 48 and to lower them after a cover C has been doubleseamed to the body. Connected to each lifter plate 25 is a lifter shaftor rod 82 which is automatically operated such as by a syncr onizing cammechanism not shown.

in operation, each time an empty partial mold 24 reaches station 12, afilled can body B is automatically moved into a partial mold 24. Also,each time a body reaches station 13, a cover C is automatically movedinto place in plate 18. As a body B and cover C are rotated by turret 11from station 13 to seaming station 14, a cam 63 engages arm 58 to movepartial mold 46 into engagement with ridge 68 at the free end orradially outer end of the filled body B at station 14, such as indicatedin FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The lifter rod 82 then moves the plate 25 upwardlywhich, in turn, moves both of the mold portions 24 and 46 and the filledbody B upwardly, whereby the body engages and carries the cover C withit into the seaming head 48 where the cover is double seamed or attachedto the body. FIG. 4 illustrates the cover and body in position to bedouble seamed by the conventional double seaming device 48.

Since double seaming devices, such as device 48, are well known in theart, only fragmentary parts thereof are shown in the drawings. In FIG..4, the seaming chuck 77 snugly fits against the inner side of wall 76during the seaming operation. For purpose of illustration, only oneconventional seaming roll 83 is shown for cooperation with chuck 77 inseaming the cover to the upper end of the body. During the seamingoperation the upper end surfaces 70 and 70a of the mold portions 24 and46 engage and support the body ridge 68, while the chuck 77 and seamingrollers 83 provide the double seam. FIG. 5 shows the cover double seamedto the body.

After the cover is double seamed to the body the cam operated lifter rod82 (FIG. 1) is lowered to thereby lower the closed can body and moldportions 24 and 46. The bias spring 61 urges the partial mold radiallyoutwardly away from the closed can.

The turret 11 will then be automatically rotated 90 by the geneva gearmechanism 21 to move a closed can to the discharge station 15. Atstation 15, the closed cans are removed from the turret 11 by anysuitable or conventional device, such as by the suction device indicatedat 85. Device 85 pulls the closed cans horizontally through the open endofthe partial mold 24. The closed cans are shown discharged onto adelivery belt 87.

When the containers are filled by a product such as ham, they are vacuumsealed. The machine is a vacuum closing machine but well known portionshave been omitted for sake of clarity. The apparatus shown is, ofcourse, preferably continuously and automatically operated with theportions thereof operated in synchronism by apparatus well known tothose skilled in the art.

Because the complete mold for supporting the upper end portions and seamforming portion of the flexible plastic side walls of the can bodyincludes several portions, in this case, two portions, the main moldportion 24 and the mold portion 46 which is laterally movable toward andaway from the partial mold 24, the canbodies can be readily horizontallymoved into and out of the main molds, and this permits fast operationand with simple equipment Also, these mold portions are movable inconcert toward and away from the seaming device, in this case verticallymovable together, and this along with the fact that the bodies are fedhorizontally into and out of the main mold, makes it possible to convertexpensive existing vacuum ham can closing machinery, such asconventional machinery for metal can bodies, into machinery for use withflexible or plastic cans, relatively inexpensively.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangements of the parts, and in the steps of the method described andtheir order of accomplishment, without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages,the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodimentthereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of attaching covers to open ends of can bodies havingflexible side walls requiring support during attachment of the coversthereto comprising the steps of providing a plurality of similar partialsupporting can body molds adapted to partially support the peripheralopen end of a can body during the attachment thereto of a cover andhaving a can body receiving opening, moving a can body to be closedlaterally through the body receiving opening into one of the partialmolds located at a first station, moving the partial mold with the bodytherein to a second station, moving a cover into a position in alignedrelation with the open end of the can body, moving the partial mold, canbody, and cover to a third station, providing a can closing device atsaid third station, providing another partial can body mold at saidthird station, moving said other body mold laterally into supportingengagement with other portions of the can body, moving the partial moldswith the can body therebetween vertically in one direction into said canclosing device, effecting operation of said closing device to attach acover to said can body, and moving said partial molds and closed canvertically in the opposite direction, moving said other partial moldlaterally away from the can body, moving the first named partial moldand closed body to a fourth station, and removing the closed can bodyfrom said first named partial mold.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of molds areconnected to a rotatable turret whereby a new can body is inserted inone of said plurality of partial molds each time an empty one returns tosaid first station.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of said plurality ofmolds supports a major portion of the periphery of the open end of a canbody.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the side walls of the canbodies are formed at least in part of plastic material. a

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the entire can body is formedof a laminate including a plastic layer.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said covers are metal.

7. In a can closing machine for attaching covers to can bodies havingopen ends with peripheral can seaming body flange means requiringsupport during the seaming of end covers to the bodies, the combinationcomprising a rotatable turret, a plurality of first angularly spacedsimilar partial molds connected with said turret, means for rotatingsaid turret to position said first partial molds at a plurality ofstations, each of said first partial molds including upstanding wallmeans with an upper peripheral portion adapted to engage and supportupper peripheral portions of a can body to provide support for a portionof the body flange means during the seaming of a cover to the can body,each of said first partial molds having-an opening in said wall meansfor receiving said can body therethrough, means for moving a can bodyinto one of said first partial molds at first one of said stations,means for rotating said turret a predetermined angular distance toposition said one partial mold at a second station, means forpositioning a cover in aligned relation with the open end of the canbody when said onepartial mold is in said second station, a secondpartial mold including wall means with an upper peripheral portionadapted to engage and support other upper peripheral portions of a canbody to provide support for a portion of the body flange means duringthe seaming of a cover to the can body, said second partial mold beingpivotally movable into engagement with said other upper peripheralportions when said one partial mold is in a third station, a can closingseaming mechanism disposed above said one partial-mold when in saidthird station, means moving said one and said second partial molds witha can body therebetween upwardly into a seaming position with saidcover, means for effecting operation of said mechanism to seam the coveronto the body, means for lowering said one and second partial molds,means for moving said second partial mold away from said one partialmold, and means for removing-the body with the cover seamed thereto at afourth station;

.8. The closing machine according to claim 7 wherein said second partialmold is movable horizontally relative to said first partial mold.

9. The closing machine according to claim 8 wherein said can bodies areformed of a plastic material.

10. The closing machine according to claim 7 wherein said second partialmold is pivotally movable in a horizontal plane toward and away from acan body at said third station, and'means for continuously moving canbodies into a first partial mold when an empty one reaches said firststation.

1. A method of attaching covers to open ends of can bodies havingflexible side walls requiring support during attachment of the coversthereto comprising the steps of providing a plurality of similar partialsupporting can body molds adapted to partially support the peripheralopen end of a can body during the attachment thereto of a cover andhaving a can body receiving opening, moving a can body to be closedlaterally through the body receiving opening into one of the partialmolds located at a first station, moving the partial mold with the bodytherein to a second station, moving a cover into a position in alignedrelation with the open end of the can body, moving the partial mold, canbody, and cover to a third station, providing a can closing device atsaid third station, providing another partial can body mold at saidthird station, moving said other body mold laterally into supportingengagement with other portions of the can body, moving the partial moldswith the can body therebetween vertically in one direction into said canclosing device, effecting operation of said closing device to attach acover to saiD can body, and moving said partial molds and closed canvertically in the opposite direction, moving said other partial moldlaterally away from the can body, moving the first named partial moldand closed body to a fourth station, and removing the closed can bodyfrom said first named partial mold.
 1. A method of attaching covers toopen ends of can bodies having flexible side walls requiring supportduring attachment of the covers thereto comprising the steps ofproviding a plurality of similar partial supporting can body moldsadapted to partially support the peripheral open end of a can bodyduring the attachment thereto of a cover and having a can body receivingopening, moving a can body to be closed laterally through the bodyreceiving opening into one of the partial molds located at a firststation, moving the partial mold with the body therein to a secondstation, moving a cover into a position in aligned relation with theopen end of the can body, moving the partial mold, can body, and coverto a third station, providing a can closing device at said thirdstation, providing another partial can body mold at said third station,moving said other body mold laterally into supporting engagement withother portions of the can body, moving the partial molds with the canbody therebetween vertically in one direction into said can closingdevice, effecting operation of said closing device to attach a cover tosaiD can body, and moving said partial molds and closed can verticallyin the opposite direction, moving said other partial mold laterally awayfrom the can body, moving the first named partial mold and closed bodyto a fourth station, and removing the closed can body from said firstnamed partial mold.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein saidplurality of molds are connected to a rotatable turret whereby a new canbody is inserted in one of said plurality of partial molds each time anempty one returns to said first station.
 3. The method according toclaim 2 wherein each of said plurality of molds supports a major portionof the periphery of the open end of a can body.
 4. The method accordingto claim 3 wherein the side walls of the can bodies are formed at leastin part of plastic material.
 5. The method according to claim 4 whereinthe entire can body is formed of a laminate including a plastic layer.6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said covers are metal.
 7. Ina can closing machine for attaching covers to can bodies having openends with peripheral can seaming body flange means requiring supportduring the seaming of end covers to the bodies, the combinationcomprising a rotatable turret, a plurality of first angularly spacedsimilar partial molds connected with said turret, means for rotatingsaid turret to position said first partial molds at a plurality ofstations, each of said first partial molds including upstanding wallmeans with an upper peripheral portion adapted to engage and supportupper peripheral portions of a can body to provide support for a portionof the body flange means during the seaming of a cover to the can body,each of said first partial molds having an opening in said wall meansfor receiving said can body therethrough, means for moving a can bodyinto one of said first partial molds at first one of said stations,means for rotating said turret a predetermined angular distance toposition said one partial mold at a second station, means forpositioning a cover in aligned relation with the open end of the canbody when said one partial mold is in said second station, a secondpartial mold including wall means with an upper peripheral portionadapted to engage and support other upper peripheral portions of a canbody to provide support for a portion of the body flange means duringthe seaming of a cover to the can body, said second partial mold beingpivotally movable into engagement with said other upper peripheralportions when said one partial mold is in a third station, a can closingseaming mechanism disposed above said one partial mold when in saidthird station, means moving said one and said second partial molds witha can body therebetween upwardly into a seaming position with saidcover, means for effecting operation of said mechanism to seam the coveronto the body, means for lowering said one and second partial molds,means for moving said second partial mold away from said one partialmold, and means for removing the body with the cover seamed thereto at afourth station.
 8. The closing machine according to claim 7 wherein saidsecond partial mold is movable horizontally relative to said firstpartial mold.
 9. The closing machine according to claim 8 wherein saidcan bodies are formed of a plastic material.